He Knew He Was Right eBook

’I think you ought, as Mr Glascock is a man
whose good opinion is certainly worth having.
Here he is. Mr Glascock, I hope your ears are
tingling. They ought to do so, because we are
saying all manner of fine things about you.’

’I could not be well spoken of by two on whose
good word I should set a higher value,’ said
he.

‘And whose do you value the most?’ said
Caroline.

‘I must first know whose eulogium will run the
highest.’

Then Nora answered him. ’Mr Glascock, other
people may praise you louder than I can do, but no
one will ever do so with more sincerity.’
There was a pretty earnestness about her as she spoke,
which Lady Rowley ought to have heard. Mr Glascock
bowed, and Miss Spalding smiled, and Nora blushed.

‘If you are not overwhelmed now,’ said
Miss Spalding, ’you must be so used to flattery,
that it has no longer any effect upon you. You
must be like a drunkard, to whom wine is as water,
and who thinks that brandy is not strong enough.’

‘I think I had better go away,’ said Mr
Glascock, ’for fear the brandy should be watered
by degrees.’ And so he left them.

Nora had become quite aware, without much process
of thinking about it, that her former lover and this
American young lady were very intimate with each other.
The tone of the conversation had shewn that it was
so and, then, how had it come to pass that Mr Glascock
had spoken to this American girl about her, Nora Rowley?
It was evident that he had spoken of her with warmth,
and had done so in a manner to impress his hearer.
For a minute or two they sat together in silence after
Mr Glascock had left them, but neither of them stirred.
Then Caroline Spalding turned suddenly upon Nora,
and took her by the hand. ’I must tell you
something,’ said she, ‘only it must be
a secret for awhile.’

‘I will not repeat it.’

’Thank you, dear. I am engaged to him as
his wife. He asked me this very afternoon, and
nobody knows it but my aunt. When I had accepted
him, he told me all the story about you. He had
very often spoken of you before, and I had guessed
how it must have been. He wears his heart so
open for those whom he loves, that there is nothing
concealed. He had seen you just before he came
to me. But perhaps I am wrong to tell you that
now. He ought to have been thinking of you again
at such a time.’

‘I did not want him to think of me again.’

’Of course you did not. Of course I am
joking. You might have been his wife if you wished
it. He has told me all that. And he especially
wants us to be friends. Is there anything to
prevent it?’

’On my part? Oh, dear, no except that you
will be such grand folk, and we shall be so poor.’